Railways, Air-India on the right track

By Our Sports Reporter

FARIDABAD, OCT. 17. Holder Indian Railways and Air-India displayed their batting prowess in their overwhelming victories over Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai respectively, in the quarterfinals of the National women's cricket championship here on Wednesday.

Eight-time national champion Railways became the first team to break the 200-run barrier in this edition, scoring 220 for five, before defeating Madhya Pradesh by 108 runs.

Air-India avenged its last year's loss to Mumbai with a nine- wicket victory. Andhra Pradesh defeated Delhi by 12 runs and Karnataka got the better of Bengal by three wickets.

On a grassy wicket at the Nahar Singh stadium here, Railways was well served by opener Rajni Venugopal who scored 93. In her 15th season for Railways, Rajni used all her experience as she drove and cut with aplomb. She put on 71 runs with fellow- opener Vanita (24). Mithali Raj (45) joined Rajni and added another 110 runs for the second wicket. For MP, Bindeshwari Goel took three wickets for 26 runs.

Facing a challenging target, MP struggled right through against off-spinner Rupanjali Shastri (three for 17) and left-arm spinner Neetu David (two for 22). India players Deepa Kulkarni (two for 17) and Mithali Raj (two for nine) were also impressive. Opener Bharti Verma (31) and Bindeshwari (27) were the only players who offered some resistance during MP's innings of 112.

At the Dayanand Women's College ground, Karnataka made heavy weather of an easy target before scoring the winning run in the final over of the innings. Last edition's semifinalist Bengal opted to bat, but managed only 137 for seven in the allotted 30 overs. Ritu (24) and Biyas (20) put on useful runs towards the end of the innings.

In reply, Karnataka, 70 for one at one stage, took the loss of two quick wickets in its stride mainly due to an unbeaten 53 by Mamta. Karnataka faces Railways in the semifinals, which will be played over two days with each side getting 90 overs to bat.

Delhi squandered a good chance to defeat last edition's runner- up, Andhra Pradesh, as its lower-order failed to deliver. At the Vijay Yadav Cricket Academy, AP scored 154, thanks to Priya Dar (25) and Monika (22). Delhi started the chase in the right earnest with openers Rajni (25) and Jaya (31) putting on 54 runs. But thereafter, Delhi lost wickets at regular intervals and fell short by 12 runs. There was a comical performance by Mumbai in its quarterfinal match against Air-India at the TERI Oval, at Gurgaon. In Mumbai's 101 for nine, there were eight run-outs as its players gave wrong calls.

Air-India completed the formalities without much ado. Skipper Anju Jain made 49 and Sunaina Mehan scored 41 as Air- India made 102 in 23.2 overs.

The scores: quarterfinals:

Railways 220 for five in 50 overs (Rajni Venugopal 93, Mithali Raj 45; Bindeshwari Goel three for 26) bt Madhya Pradesh 112 in 49.3 overs (Bharti Verma 31, Bindeshwari Goel 27, Rupanjali Shastri three for 17).

Andhra Pradesh 154 in 48.3 overs (Priya Dar 25, Reema four for 29) bt Delhi 142 in 47.2 overs (Rajni 25, Jaya 31, Suvarna Laxmi three for 26).

Bengal 137 for seven in 50 overs lost to Karnataka 138 for seven in 49.1 overs (Hemamalini 30, Mamta 53 not out).

Mumbai 101 for nine in 50 overs (Sangita Kamat 54) lost to Air- India 102 for one in 23.1 overs (Anju Jain 49 not out, Sunaina Mehan 41 not out).

Thursday's schedule (semifinals): Railways v Karnataka; Air-India v Andhra Pradesh.

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Section  : Sport
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